Mentha arvensis, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 184

5. M. arvensis L. , Sp. Pl. 577 (1753)

(incl. M. lapponica Wahlenb. ).

Hairy perennial or rarely annual up to 60 cm, with sickly scent; flowering stems ascending or erect. Leaves (15-)2O- 50(-70) x 10-30(-40) mm, elliptic-lanceolate to broadly ovate, usually elliptical with the base narrowing to a petiole, shallowly toothed. Flowers in remote sessile verticillasters, the inflorescence leafy at the apex. Bracts like the leaves, smaller above. Calyx 1-5-2-5 mm, broadly campanulate, hairy; teeth deflate or broadly triangular. Pedicels glabrous or hairy. Corolla lilac, white or rarely pink. Nutlets pale brown. 2« = 24, 72, 90. Most o f Europe, but absent from many o f the islands. Au Be Br Bu Cz DaFeGaGeGrHbHeHoHsHuItJuLuNoPoRmRs (N, B, C, W, K, E)?Si Su.

The European plants form part of a widespread polymorphic complex. Many infraspecific taxa have been recognized, chiefly on the basis of vegetative characters, but none seems very satisfactory. Among these is subsp. austriaca (Jacq.) Briq. , Lab. Alpes Marit. 88 (1891) ( M. austriaca Jacq. ; incl. var. parietariifolia J. Becker ), with leaves elliptic-lanceolate, attenuate at the base. The very similar M. lapponica Wahlenb. , FI. Lapp. 161 (1812), from N. Europe, has been recognized by a few authors. It differs from subsp. austriaca only in being subglabrous, with few-flowered verticillasters.

M. x muellerana F. W. Schultz , Flora (Regensb.) 37: 543 (1854) ( M. wohlwerthiana F. W. Schultz , M. carinthiaca auct., vix Host, M. malinvaldii Camus , M. stachyoides auct ., I an Host) ( M. arvensis x suaveolens ) occurs occasionally in the vicinity of its parents, and is probably often confused with 5. It is sterile and has 2« = 60.

M. x dalmatica Tausch , Syll. Pl. Nov. Ratisbon. (König! Baier. Bot. Ges.) 2: 249 (1828) ( M. carinthiaca sensu Petrak ,? an Host, M. haynaldiana Borbas , M. iraziana Borbas , M. cinerascens H. Braun ) ( M. arvensis x longifolia ), is a rare, sterile hybrid occasionally found in the vicinity of its parents. It is sometimes confused with hairy forms of 7, but can generally be distinguished by its more slender habit, narrow bracts, smaller calyx and different scent.